A new presidential team has taken the helm at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) after the new roles were officially approved at its Annual General Meeting in Glasgow yesterday.

Vice president Jim Strang has stepped up to become president – taking over from Alison Inman – while Aileen Evans becomes vice president.

Jim, who is chief executive of Parkhead Housing Association, has already announced that he will be continuing Alison’s support for Women’s Aid during his year as president.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted at becoming the president of my own professional body, especially at a time when housing is so much on people’s agenda - especially our politicians.

“It’s also a very humbling experience being selected by the membership, my peers, to lead the sector and I hope to do them proud. I’m also following in the footsteps of some of the professions greats and a brilliant president in Alison Inman. I am really looking forward to meeting as many members as possible but also recruiting many more housing people into the CIH.”

Aileen, who is chief executive of Grand Union Housing Group in Bedfordshire, was elected vice president by CIH members earlier this year.

She said: “I am delighted to be taking up this important role at such a crucial time for the sector. I look forward to supporting Jim in his presidential year in continuing to raise awareness of issues surrounding domestic abuse and what landlords can do to help prevent it.”

CIH chief executive Terrie Alafat CBE added: “I’d like to welcome Jim and Aileen to their new roles, which are incredibly important to CIH. Our president and vice president provide leadership and inspiration to CIH members around the world.

“Both Jim and Aileen are passionate about the fundamental importance of genuinely affordable housing and the role that housing professionals play – I know they will make a fantastic team.”

She added: “I’d like to pay tribute to our outgoing president, Alison Inman – her energy, determination and tireless support of CIH as the professional body for housing has been outstanding.

“Over the past year Alison has really kick-started a debate about the role housing can play in tackling domestic abuse and has been nothing short of a complete inspiration to all of our members around the world.”